Pekalongan Local Foods – If we’re talking about Pekalongan, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the beautiful Pekalongan Batik. It even got into one of UNESCO’s Creative City Networks under the Craft and Folk Arts category!
While visiting Pekalongan and hunting their finest batiks you must not forget to also try some of their traditional foods. From meals to snacks, these local dishes are not just tasty, it’s finger licking good!
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Pekalongan Local Foods for a Tasteful Vacation
Fair warning: we are not responsible for any feelings of hunger you might experience at the end of this article. So read at your own risk 😉
1. Tauto
At first glance, Tauto may seem like your regular meat soup, but it actually uses a special sauce called tauco, which is made from fermented soy, giving the dish a sweet aftertaste.
Usually, the soup consists of meat, boiled egg, and vermicelli. The locals also love to add a handful of fried shallots for a crunchy texture. As they come in small portions, don’t forget to order an extra bowl to satisfy your stomach!
2. Garang Asem
Craving for a dish that can give your taste buds an extra kick? Different from the sweet tauto, Garang Asem has this unique tangy taste with a hint of spiciness.
Traditionally, Garang Asem only uses beef which makes it feels like the lighter version of Rawon from Surabaya. Nowadays, you can also find Garang Asem with chicken which makes it even more perfect to eat on a rainy day.
3. Sego Megono
Next on the list is Sego Megono, one of the most popular local dishes in Pekalongan. In one portion, you will get rice, minced young jackfruit, and side dishes of your choice like fried tempeh or squid in ink sauce.
Sego Megono is usually sold at night as street food. Thus, this will be a great late-night meal you can grab with your buddies after a day of hanging out.
4. Kluban
Now, this dish is perfect for the healthy junkies. Simply put, Kluban is like a traditional salad. It uses a variety of vegetables like cabbages, green beans, bean sprouts, and spinach. To top it off, they mix in a spicy coconut “dressing”.
Though it’s quite fulfilling on its own, some people like to pair it with a small plate of rice. As the locals would say: it’s not a meal unless it’s eaten with rice!
5. Apem Kesesi
Moving on to traditional snacks, first on the list would be Apem Kesesi. Often called by the locals as “Comal”, Apem Kesesi is a traditional snack made from corn flour and brown sugar.
The snack is pretty thin and has a chewy texture. Then, once it’s inside your mouth, it will burst in the sweetness from the brown sugar. To balance it out, you can pair it with a nice cup of warm tea.
6. Ongol-Ongol
Not so much of a sweet tooth? You can opt for Ongol-Ongol, which has the perfect combination of sweet and savory. Originally, Ongol-Ongol is only made by mixing tapioca, palm sugar, and coconut.
Today, you can find some variations that use cassava or sweet potato, giving it a starchy taste. One bite of this small treat and we can guarantee that you won’t be able to stop yourself from eating more!
7. Iwel-Iwel
Derived from the word “kemiwel” which means cute, Iwel-Iwel is used as a form of hope for a baby to be born as cute and healthy.
Wrapped in banana leaves, Iwel-Iwel has a triangular shape and it’s made of sticky rice that’s filled with serundeng, which is basically shredded coconuts soaked with brown sugar. Best part is, it doesn’t even cost that much to have this snack and take it home as a souvenir!
Feeling Hungry Yet?
So you’ve reached the end of the article, t-mates. At this point, we are sure that you’re going to be tempted to go to Pekalongan just to prove whether or not the dishes taste as good as we described.
If so, then tiket.com is at your service to give you the best deal possible for your trip to Pekalongan. Whether it’s for a train ticket or accommodation, we have it all for you on our website and application.
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